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Habits of Mind

We are often asked, “How would you know when and if the Habits of Mind have been infused?” We usually respond by saying that we’d know it when there is a “harmony of heart and mind”: when it is mindfully infused throughout the curriculum, instructional practices, assessment strategies, the people in and the culture of the schools — not just a Habits of Mind school but truly a “mindful school” dedicated to improving society. There is implementation fidelity in evidence. Furthermore, we believe this is never-ending journey towards infusion rather than a status to be achieved. It becomes a “way of being” rather than a ”thing to do.”

– from Costa, A & Kallick, B. (2009) Learning and Leading with Habits of Mind: 16 Characteristics of Success. Alexandria, ASCD

CHSVT Habits of Mind Mission Statement

CHSVT is a mindful school that infuses the Habits of Mind into its practices and policies. Students will learn to become critical thinkers and develop a sense of inquiry, exactness, and flexible thinking from new perspectives.

Vermont Department of Corrections Commitment Statement

The Vermont Department of Corrections is committed to integrating the Habits of Mind as strength-based cognitive skills of success that can be taught, coached, role modeled, and practiced. The Habits of Mind should be displayed through graduated practice as participants show growth in using the Habits in increasingly difficult situations.

Community High School of Vermont (CHSVT) began using theHabits of Mind (HOM) in 2003, when it initiated the Workforce Development Program (WDP) with funding from a US Department of Education Life Skills grant. Since that time, CHSVT has developed a partnership with theInstitute for Habits of Mind (IHOM). Steps that CHSVThas taken on its HOM journey include:

2014

Faculty members useDispositions, Reframing Teaching and Learningto infuse CHSVT Student Learning Outcomes, HOM, Common Core State Standards, and 21st Century Learning Outcomes as educational outcomes for CHSVT students

2013

CHSVT receives International Learning Community of Excellence Certification from IHOM

2012

HOMcurriculum and assessment practices enhanced through workshops and coaching to ensure that students are learning to use HOM, and three tracks are defined to meet Corrections population needs:

Education - intelligent behaviors, with explicit education in each HOM

Faculty members receive copies of Habits of Mind Across the Curriculum, Practical and Creative Strategies for Teachersto provide tools to integrate HOM with coursework

2008

CHSVTpartners trained in HOM, and all seventeen CHSVTcampuses use and teach HOM

2007

WDPWorkforce Development Program Manual revised

2006

WDPStrength-Based Supervision Staff Training curriculum written to provide on-going support for WDP staff

2005

WDPWorkforce Development Program Manualpublished using HOM as “cognitive attributes for managing life’s challenges”

WDPHabits of Mind Curriculum revised and reprinted

2004

WDPHabits of Mind Curriculum written and implemented at three of seventeen CHSVTcampuses, in St. Albans, Newport and Windsor, Vermont, and made possible by a US Department of Education Life Skills grant

2003

HOM introduced as model behaviors for staff working with WDP participants, using Habits of Mind: A Developmental Series

Research Demonstration Project. Workforce Development Program, Vermont Department of Corrections. Funded by US Department of Education, Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools, Corrections Education, “Life Skills for Prisoners”. Published June 2005, Revised January 2007.